The family of a war hero who was forced to sell his Victoria Cross 30 years ago are auctioning his other medals in the hope of reuniting them all.

Major Patrick Porteous was awarded the VC Britains highest military honour by King George VI in 1942.

After his death aged 82 in 2000 his family tried to track down the original medal but were unsuccessful.

They have decided to put the rest of the collection up for auction in the hope that the publicity will flush out the missing VC.

Major Porteous daughter Didie Hall, 50, said: My father sold the VC about 30 years ago without telling anyone, and he wore a replacement.

It would be really nice to get the medals back together. My mother died in February and she had been trying to track down the VC.

His other medals, to be auctioned at Lewes, East Sussex, next week, are the 1939-45 star, France and Germany star, Defence Medal, War Medal, General Service Medal with Malaya and Palestine clasps,
Coronation Medal and Jubilee Medal.